Common Law Marriage States

Common Law Marriage Status
Common Law Marriage Status
AlabamaAlabamaPreviously Allowed
AlaskaAlaskaNot Allowed
ArizonaArizonaNot Allowed
ArkansasArkansasNot Allowed
CaliforniaCaliforniaNot Allowed
ColoradoColoradoAllowed
ConnecticutConnecticutNot Allowed
DelawareDelawareNot Allowed
FloridaFloridaPreviously Allowed
GeorgiaGeorgiaPreviously Allowed
HawaiiHawaiiNot Allowed
IdahoIdahoNot Allowed
IllinoisIllinoisNot Allowed
IndianaIndianaPreviously Allowed
IowaIowaAllowed
KansasKansasAllowed
KentuckyKentuckyNot Allowed
LouisianaLouisianaNot Allowed
MaineMaineNot Allowed
MarylandMarylandNot Allowed
MassachusettsMassachusettsNot Allowed
MichiganMichiganNot Allowed
MinnesotaMinnesotaNot Allowed
MississippiMississippiNot Allowed
MissouriMissouriNot Allowed
MontanaMontanaAllowed
NebraskaNebraskaNot Allowed
NevadaNevadaNot Allowed
New HampshireNew HampshireAllowed
New JerseyNew JerseyNot Allowed
New MexicoNew MexicoNot Allowed
New YorkNew YorkNot Allowed
North CarolinaNorth CarolinaNot Allowed
North DakotaNorth DakotaNot Allowed
OhioOhioPreviously Allowed
OklahomaOklahomaNot Allowed
OregonOregonNot Allowed
PennsylvaniaPennsylvaniaPreviously Allowed
Rhode IslandRhode IslandNot Allowed
South CarolinaSouth CarolinaAllowed
South DakotaSouth DakotaNot Allowed
TennesseeTennesseeNot Allowed
TexasTexasAllowed
UtahUtahAllowed
VermontVermontNot Allowed
VirginiaVirginiaNot Allowed
WashingtonWashingtonNot Allowed
West VirginiaWest VirginiaNot Allowed
WisconsinWisconsinNot Allowed
WyomingWyomingNot Allowed
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Introduction

Common-law marriage remains a legally nuanced and culturally complex institution in the United States. Simplistically defined, a common-law marriage is a form of irregular marriage where a couple, living together and portraying themselves as married to the world, are considered legally married, despite not having a formal wedding or court acknowledgment. This arrangement, dating back to colonial America's grueling conditions, exists today in varying capacities across select states in the U.S.

  • The number of U.S. states fully recognizing common-law marriage can be counted on two hands. The states of Colorado, Texas, Montana, Utah, Iowa, Kansas, South Carolina, and New Hampshire extend recognition to common-law unions.
  • A handful of states, such as Alabama, Indiana, Florida, Ohio, Georgia, and Pennsylvania, have 'Previously Allowed' common-law marriages. This means common-law marriages entered into before a certain date in these states are lawfully acknowledged, but no new such relationships are recognized.
  • The vast majority of states, including populous ones such as California, New York, and Michigan, among others, do not allow common-law marriages.
  • Importantly, in the states where common-law marriage is currently allowed, the couple must meet specific criteria - living together for an extended period, portraying themselves as a married couple, and intending to be married.

By Region

Alabama

See Less
Alabama

Metric

Value

Rank

Common Law Marriage Status

Previously Allowed

Alaska

See More
Alaska

Metric

Value

Rank

Common Law Marriage Status

Not Allowed

Arizona

See More
Arizona

Metric

Value

Rank

Common Law Marriage Status

Not Allowed

Arkansas

See More
Arkansas

Metric

Value

Rank

Common Law Marriage Status

Not Allowed

California

See More
California

Metric

Value

Rank

Common Law Marriage Status

Not Allowed

Colorado

See More
Colorado

Metric

Value

Rank

Common Law Marriage Status

Allowed

Connecticut

See More
Connecticut

Metric

Value

Rank

Common Law Marriage Status

Not Allowed

Delaware

See More
Delaware

Metric

Value

Rank

Common Law Marriage Status

Not Allowed

Florida

See More
Florida

Metric

Value

Rank

Common Law Marriage Status

Previously Allowed

Georgia

See More
Georgia

Metric

Value

Rank

Common Law Marriage Status

Previously Allowed

Hawaii

See More
Hawaii

Metric

Value

Rank

Common Law Marriage Status

Not Allowed

Idaho

See More
Idaho

Metric

Value

Rank

Common Law Marriage Status

Not Allowed

Illinois

See More
Illinois

Metric

Value

Rank

Common Law Marriage Status

Not Allowed

Indiana

See More
Indiana

Metric

Value

Rank

Common Law Marriage Status

Previously Allowed

Iowa

See More
Iowa

Metric

Value

Rank

Common Law Marriage Status

Allowed

Kansas

See More
Kansas

Metric

Value

Rank

Common Law Marriage Status

Allowed

Kentucky

See More
Kentucky

Metric

Value

Rank

Common Law Marriage Status

Not Allowed

Louisiana

See More
Louisiana

Metric

Value

Rank

Common Law Marriage Status

Not Allowed

Maine

See More
Maine

Metric

Value

Rank

Common Law Marriage Status

Not Allowed

Maryland

See More
Maryland

Metric

Value

Rank

Common Law Marriage Status

Not Allowed

Massachusetts

See More
Massachusetts

Metric

Value

Rank

Common Law Marriage Status

Not Allowed

Michigan

See More
Michigan

Metric

Value

Rank

Common Law Marriage Status

Not Allowed

Minnesota

See More
Minnesota

Metric

Value

Rank

Common Law Marriage Status

Not Allowed

Mississippi

See More
Mississippi

Metric

Value

Rank

Common Law Marriage Status

Not Allowed

Missouri

See More
Missouri

Metric

Value

Rank

Common Law Marriage Status

Not Allowed

Montana

See More
Montana

Metric

Value

Rank

Common Law Marriage Status

Allowed

Nebraska

See More
Nebraska

Metric

Value

Rank

Common Law Marriage Status

Not Allowed

Nevada

See More
Nevada

Metric

Value

Rank

Common Law Marriage Status

Not Allowed

New Hampshire

See More
New Hampshire

Metric

Value

Rank

Common Law Marriage Status

Allowed

New Jersey

See More
New Jersey

Metric

Value

Rank

Common Law Marriage Status

Not Allowed

New Mexico

See More
New Mexico

Metric

Value

Rank

Common Law Marriage Status

Not Allowed

New York

See More
New York

Metric

Value

Rank

Common Law Marriage Status

Not Allowed

North Carolina

See More
North Carolina

Metric

Value

Rank

Common Law Marriage Status

Not Allowed

North Dakota

See More
North Dakota

Metric

Value

Rank

Common Law Marriage Status

Not Allowed

Ohio

See More
Ohio

Metric

Value

Rank

Common Law Marriage Status

Previously Allowed

Oklahoma

See More
Oklahoma

Metric

Value

Rank

Common Law Marriage Status

Not Allowed

Oregon

See More
Oregon

Metric

Value

Rank

Common Law Marriage Status

Not Allowed

Pennsylvania

See More
Pennsylvania

Metric

Value

Rank

Common Law Marriage Status

Previously Allowed

Rhode Island

See More
Rhode Island

Metric

Value

Rank

Common Law Marriage Status

Not Allowed

South Carolina

See More
South Carolina

Metric

Value

Rank

Common Law Marriage Status

Allowed

South Dakota

See More
South Dakota

Metric

Value

Rank

Common Law Marriage Status

Not Allowed

Tennessee

See More
Tennessee

Metric

Value

Rank

Common Law Marriage Status

Not Allowed

Texas

See More
Texas

Metric

Value

Rank

Common Law Marriage Status

Allowed

Utah

See More
Utah

Metric

Value

Rank

Common Law Marriage Status

Allowed

Vermont

See More
Vermont

Metric

Value

Rank

Common Law Marriage Status

Not Allowed

Virginia

See More
Virginia

Metric

Value

Rank

Common Law Marriage Status

Not Allowed

Washington

See More
Washington

Metric

Value

Rank

Common Law Marriage Status

Not Allowed

West Virginia

See More
West Virginia

Metric

Value

Rank

Common Law Marriage Status

Not Allowed

Wisconsin

See More
Wisconsin

Metric

Value

Rank

Common Law Marriage Status

Not Allowed

Wyoming

See More
Wyoming

Metric

Value

Rank

Common Law Marriage Status

Not Allowed

Table

Region ↕Common Law Marriage Status ↕
Alabama iconAlabamaPreviously Allowed
Alaska iconAlaskaNot Allowed
Arizona iconArizonaNot Allowed
Arkansas iconArkansasNot Allowed
California iconCaliforniaNot Allowed
Colorado iconColoradoAllowed
Connecticut iconConnecticutNot Allowed
Delaware iconDelawareNot Allowed
Florida iconFloridaPreviously Allowed
Georgia iconGeorgiaPreviously Allowed
Hawaii iconHawaiiNot Allowed
Idaho iconIdahoNot Allowed
Illinois iconIllinoisNot Allowed
Indiana iconIndianaPreviously Allowed
Iowa iconIowaAllowed
Kansas iconKansasAllowed
Kentucky iconKentuckyNot Allowed
Louisiana iconLouisianaNot Allowed
Maine iconMaineNot Allowed
Maryland iconMarylandNot Allowed
Massachusetts iconMassachusettsNot Allowed
Michigan iconMichiganNot Allowed
Minnesota iconMinnesotaNot Allowed
Mississippi iconMississippiNot Allowed
Missouri iconMissouriNot Allowed
Montana iconMontanaAllowed
Nebraska iconNebraskaNot Allowed
Nevada iconNevadaNot Allowed
New Hampshire iconNew HampshireAllowed
New Jersey iconNew JerseyNot Allowed
New Mexico iconNew MexicoNot Allowed
New York iconNew YorkNot Allowed
North Carolina iconNorth CarolinaNot Allowed
North Dakota iconNorth DakotaNot Allowed
Ohio iconOhioPreviously Allowed
Oklahoma iconOklahomaNot Allowed
Oregon iconOregonNot Allowed
Pennsylvania iconPennsylvaniaPreviously Allowed
Rhode Island iconRhode IslandNot Allowed
South Carolina iconSouth CarolinaAllowed
South Dakota iconSouth DakotaNot Allowed
Tennessee iconTennesseeNot Allowed
Texas iconTexasAllowed
Utah iconUtahAllowed
Vermont iconVermontNot Allowed
Virginia iconVirginiaNot Allowed
Washington iconWashingtonNot Allowed
West Virginia iconWest VirginiaNot Allowed
Wisconsin iconWisconsinNot Allowed
Wyoming iconWyomingNot Allowed
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